Systems and Methods for Cultivating, Harvesting and Processing Biomass

Abstract

Combining controlled open-ocean iron enrichment with a system for collecting the ensuing biological growth can lead to a fundamental shift towards using marine biomass feedstock for large-scale global biodiesel production. The literature review reveals that open-ocean enrichment effectively reduces both the atmospheric carbon dioxide partial pressure and ocean acidity. A semi-closed ocean system is provided that allows for the efficient cultivation and harvesting of a high tonnage biomass feedstock generated by iron fertilization. The concept methodically capitalizes on the ocean's free nutrients, kinetic/potential energy, and expansive surface area to ensure that the mass, energy, and cost balance equations favor our system while taking care to preserve the ocean's ecosystem. The system is modular, portable, easily scalable system, and minimizes waste. In addition to the above benefits, our concept allows continued adherence to the NEPA and London Protocol by culling the biomass produced by fixing carbon dioxide and limiting iron exposure to the vessel's interior.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for producing biomass comprising:
 growing a microorganism in a vessel comprising a semi-permeable membrane in an aquatic environment; and   retaining iron compounds within the vessel.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the microorganism is at least one of the following: microalgae, plankton, diatoms, algae, phytoplankton, or zooplankton. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the semi-permeable membrane allows fluid from the aquatic environment to pass freely while impeding diffusion of the microorganism out of the vessel. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising reducing the volume of the vessel within the semi-permeable membrane, thereby increasing concentration of the microorganism therein. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the vessel comprises a top and a base, and wherein said reducing the volume occurs when the top and base are brought into closer proximity to one another. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a magnet or electromagnet is used to retain the iron compounds within the vessel. 
     
     
         7 . A system for producing biomass comprising:
 a vessel in an aquatic environment capable of growing a microorganism in an interior region enclosed therein, wherein the vessel has a semi-permeable material capable of retaining the microorganism in the interior region while allowing fluid from the aquatic environment to flow through;   a processing platform in fluid communication with the interior region of the vessel and configured to harvest the microorganism from the vessel.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the processing platform recovers lipids contained within the harvested microorganism and processes the lipids into biodiesel. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the processing platform collects carbohydrates and proteins contained within the harvested microorganism and processes them into products for human or animal consumption.